A Day In The Life of a Camp Counsellor

A Day In The Life of a Camp Counsellor

My role at camp consisted mainly of creating activities and teaching each group of campers twice a week. On periods i did not have an art class i was either taking photographs of activities for the website, Helping at horse riding or basketball. Along side teaching art, i was signed to a group of campers and in the period where i did not have anything scheduled, i would find their activity and join in as i wanted to spend as much time with my girls as possible. As my period 6 was always free, i would love to join the girls in the pool and see all their progress while learning. 

Before arriving at camp, I made a list of the activities I planned to do with the campers but but quickly realised it was to take every week as it came and seeing what each group wanted to do to keep lessons exciting and fun for the kids. Making sure each group had a go at the main activity, for the majority of each period I would choose a medium and the campers were  then free to do what they wanted to do with them as their capabilities varied. Incorporating many sensory activities such as printing leaves and flowers, hand and foot printing with paints, making turtles and working with clay, each lesson was different. The activities helps the campers build friendships, grow in confidence and grow their skills in communication as well as sharing with others.  Watching each child develop over the two month period was so rewarding for me. Some period were difficult as some campers were unpredictable. I kept a list of items that some campers had to be supervised using at all times and ensure their travelling counsellor was also aware as my attention was divided between the class.

I loved my role at camp because I had the opportunity to bond with all of the kids and not just the group I was assigned to which was my concern. The I saw many changes in specific campers, for example. One younger girl was incredibly disruptive and impatient and by the end of summer she would sit and not only finish her task but also offer help to other campers. One of my best memories with campers was working with one who was non verbal. He was never really interested in the activities in the first couple of weeks but discovering he was very interested in paints, I would make sure there was paints available if he struggles with the planned activity. By the end of summer he was showing enthusiasm and smiled constantly which was amazing to see and stay with me forever. 

My favourite memories from camp as a whole are definitely the special activity days including carnival day, paint your counsellor week, camp Olympics Games, senior fling and the 4th of July to name a few... In my next blog post i will be focusing on these events!

                                                             Testimonials

Counsellor Name: Sophie Mckay
Home Country: Scotland

Role at Camp: Arts and Crafts Counsellor and General Counsellor

Favourite Memory: Every Saturday night doing counsellor entertainment and being painted head to toe

Favourite 'Overheard at camp' Quote: 'If you could be any animal, what would you be? - A COW!'

I was really interested to get answers to these questions from my friends at camp as everyone's experience and jobs within the camp were very different, even the age of each group contributed. 

Counsellor Name: Sierra Beck
Home Country: Commerce Twp, MI (USA)

Role at Camp: General Counsellor and Academic Advisor 

Favourite Activity: Camp Olympics

Favourite Memory: 'When a girl we have been working with all summer on swimming was swimming in the Camp Olympic Games and she won her race by a landslide'

Favourite 'Overheard at camp' Quote: ''I was joking about Ebola, everyone has Ebola'

Counsellor Name: Becky Williams
Home Country: Wales
Role at Camp: Special Diets Supervisor/Support Staff 

Favourite Memory: Carnival Day - Going down the DIY water slide with the campers 

Counsellor Name: Dylan Baxendale
Home Country: Scotland
Role at Camp: Sports Coach and General Counsellor 

Favourite Memory: Favourite camper tying his shoe independantly

Favourite 'Overheard at camp' Quote: 'I need to get the pee pee off my *****'